Traction-engine coupling.



No. 713,393. Patented Nov. ll, |902 J. W. BULLEB. TRACTION ENGINECOUPLING.

(Application flied July 2, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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Uniinn STATES "ATENT ()FFICE.

JACOB W. BULLER, OF JANSEN, NEBRASKA.

TRACTION-ENGINE. COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,393, dated November11, 1902.

Application filed July 2, 1902. Serial No. 114,058. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB W. BULLER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Jansen, in the county of Jefferson and State of Nebraska,have invented a new and Improved Traction-Engine Coupling, of which thefollowing is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to meansfor detachably connecting atraction-engine to the tender therefor, and likewise for connecting thefuel and water supplying tender with a portable threshing-machine orother wagon for its progressive movement, and has for its object toprovide novel details of construction for a device of the characterindicated which adapt it for very reliable and convenient service,enabling the automatic connection of the engine with a vehicle to bedrawn thereby and also facilitating their disconnection.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device detached from an engine.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a traction-engine platformand of the improvement applied thereupon. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view substantially on the line 3 8 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is aplan view of the twin draftbars, the draw-bar for a Wagon or tender thatconnects with the draft-bars, and a springcloser for the draft-barsengaged therewith.

In the drawings, that show the invention and its application, 5represents the frame of the coupling device, formed of metal, having theparallel side bars 5 joined at one end to the integral front cross-bars5".

At the rear ends of the parallel bars 5 integral portions 5 thereof arebent toward each other at equal obtuse angles a, these converged framemembers joining the rear transverse frame-bar 5 As shown,laterally-projected ears 5 are preferably formed at the corners of theframe 5 to receive bolts for connection of said frame with the platformA, that is a rearward projection from the rear end of a traction-engineof any preferred style. (Not shown.)

Ihe front cross-bar 5 is longitudinally slotted between the endsthereof, as shown at b in Figs. 1 and 2, this provision accommodatingthe paired draft-bars 6 6*, that are loosely introduced therein andextend from their forward ends that project a suitable distance inadvance of the front cross-bar 5 to engage the lower surface of the rearcross-bar 5 whereon they are imposed in lapped condition and pivotedthereto, as indicated at c in Fig. 1, said pivot also appearing in Fig.4E.

The lapped draft-bars 6 6 are of equal length from their pivotconnection 0 to their forward free ends, and, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 4, each bar is cut away at adjacent corners, so as to produce likeslopes d thereon, that merge into the lateral notches d, whereby thesimilar latch-hooks e e are produced on said ends of the draft-bars, andit will be seen that the transverse shoulders (1 that define the rearedges of the notches d, extend inwardly from the inner edge of eachdraftbar. A looped spring 7, having such contractile strength as willenable it to normally press the lapped and pivoted draft-bars 6 6 intoclosed adjustment, has its free ends bent inwardly, so as to producelockingtoes g thereon, which are disposed opposite each other, as shownin Fig. 4.

Upon each draft-bar 6 6 a guard-plate 8 is secured, these flat plateseach having an end portion 8 bent at a right angle thereon, and saidangnlarly-disposed abutment-flanges 8"? are held as lateral projectionson the outer edges of the draft-bars 6 6* when the main members of theguard-plates are affixed transversely upon the upper and lower sides ofsaid draft-bars.

It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 4 that the locking-toes g on the loopedspring 7 engage with the rearward vertical edges of the abutmentiianges8, whereby the spring is held in operative connection with thedraft-bars 6 6. Furthermore, the construction and relative connection ofthe guard-plates 8, together with'the abutment-flanges 8 thereon, adaptthe latter-named parts to have contact with the ends of the guard-plateswhen the draftbars are closed a proper degree, and thus prevent thespring from moving the draft-bars farther than to aline their side edgesin pairs with each other, as represented in Figs. 1 and 3.

A rocking detent-frame is provided which is designed to hold thedraft-bars 6 6 in closed condition, free to be released as occasion mayrequire. This frame consists of two side bars 9 9, held spaced apartparallel with each other .by the preferably integral transverse bar 9",

the bars 9 being separated sufficiently to enable their outer surfacesto loosely contact with the inner surfaces of parallel members 5 of theframe 5.

The'side bars 9 are pivoted upon the parallel frame members 5, near thefree ends of said side bars, by the transverse rock-shaft 10, journaledin the frame 5, near the junction of the members 5 5 of the same, andthe shaft is secured in the side bars by pins h, as indicated in Figs. 1and 2.

A tripping-arm 10 is formed or secured upon one extended end of therock-shaft 10, said arm projecting alongside of the frame 5, and at asuitable distance from the rock-shaft the arm is bent upwardly, so thatit may extend through and above the platform A, that is secured at therear end of a traction-engine, (not shown,) the upper end of the uprightarm preferably having a foot block thereon to receive the tread of anenginemans foot.

The transverse bar 9 is notched in its lower edge rectangularly at apoint immediately above the draft-bars 6 6, and said notch 9 is of suchrelative width as will permit the closed side bars to enter the notchand be loosely embraced by the side members of the latter, when therocking detent-frame is permitted by its gravity to rock down into ahorizontal plane, which will render its upper surface flush with that ofthe frame 5, as represented in Fig. 2.

A coupling-bar 11 (shown broken away in Fig. 1) in complete formprojects from one end of a traction-engine tender, an end of athreshingmachine mounted on wheels, or other heavy vehicle that is to bedrawn by the engine having the improvement.

The coupling-bar 11 consists of a metal block formed with a longitudinalslot at its center of thickness, said slot 9; having such dimensionsbetween the upper and lower walls of the bar as will permit the freeintroduction of the lapped draft-bars therein at their projectinglatch-hook ends e e.

A coupling-pin 11 is inserted in verticallyalined perforations formed inthe spaced upper and lower walls of the coupling-bar 11, at thetransverse center thereof.

In effecting an automatic coupled engagement of the bar 11 with thedraft-bars 6 6 the engine is moved toward the vehicle that is to becoupled therewith, so as to introduce the latch-hook ends 6 e into theslot 2'. The pin 11 will thus be caused to press upon the sloped edges(1 of the latch-hooks e e and spread the latter, so as to permit thepassage of the pin into the notches d, that will together freely receivethe pin and clasp it when the draft-bars are pressed together by thelooped spring 7.

In effecting the coupled connection of an engine with a vehicle, as justdescribed, it is obvious that the engineman must press upon the arm 10%so as to rock the detent-frame upwardly at its rear end, which willraise the transverse bar 9, so that the side shoulders of the notch 9will release the draft-bars 6 6 and permit them to be spread apart attheir latching ends, and after a coupled connection has been effected,as explained, this may be rendered secure by dropping the detent-frameinto normal position, so that the side walls of the notch 9 will embracethe side edges of the closed draft-bars 6 6". To uncouple the device,the pin 11 is withdrawn from the coupling-bar 11. It will be seen thatthe construction of the improved coupling device is very simple,inexpensive, and convenient, affordin g reliable means for automaticallycoupling together a motor and a tender or other wheeled structure.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. A coupling, comprisinga frame, having a slottedcross-bar at one end, two lapped draft-bars, each provided with alatch-hook at like ends, said bars passing through the slotted cross-barand having pivoted connection with an opposite cross-bar of the frame,and a spring pressing the cross-bars toward each other.

2. An engine-coupling, comprising a main frame, having a slottedcross-bar at one end thereof, two lapped flat draft-bars, each havingadraft-hook at a like end, which hooks project toward each other, thedraft -bars passing through the slotted cross-bar and having pivotedconnection with an opposite crossbar of the frame, and a loopedcontractile spring engaged at its ends with the draft-bars, normallyclosing them.

3. An engine-coupling, comprising a'main frame, having parallel sidebars, and a crossbar that is slotted longitudinally, two flat lappeddraft-bars each having parallel side edges and a laterally-projectedlatch-hook, said hooks projecting toward each other, the draft-barspassing through the slotted frame cross-bar and pivoted together upon anopposite cross-bar, a looped contractile spring engaged at its ends withthe draft-bars, normally closing them, means to limit the closure ofsaid draft-bars, a detent-frame held to rock between the parallelmembers of the main frame, and means for rocking said detent-frame.

4. An engine-coupling, comprising a main frame, having an end cross-barthat is slotted longitudinally, two flat lapped draft -ba rs, eachhaving parallel side edges and a laterally-projected latch-hook, saidhooks projecting toward each other, the draft-bars passing through theslotted cross-bar and being pivoted together upon an opposite cross-bar,a looped contractile spring engaged at its ends with the draft-bars andnormally closing them, guard-plates having abutmentflanges adapted tolimit the closure of the draft-bars, a notched detent-frame pivoted inthe main frame so that the notch therein will embrace the draft-bars toprevent them from diverging, and a tripping-arm adapted to lift thenotched end of the deten t-frame when said arm is depressed.

5. An engine and tender coupling, comprising a main frame securable on aplatform for the engine, two lapped draft-bars pivoted at one end on across-bar of the main frame, means for supporting the opposite ends of

